MUMBAI, Aug 15: A writ petition demanding a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of power looms in the State by the Mahatma Phule Backward Classes Development Corporation (MPBCDC), and the Vasantrao Naik Vimukt Jatis and Nomadic Tribe Development Corporation(VNVJNTDC), is to come up before the Bombay High Court on Monday.

The petitioner Madhav Deshpande, has demanded an inquiry into the tenders received by the MPBCDC on January 25, 1995, in which according to the petitioner, one party, Shivangi Industries, has been shown undue favour, and a nexus between the corporation officials and the company is suspected.

The petition also alleges that B V Sonawane, former acting MD of the MPBCDC, has filed a false affidavit in an earlier petition filed by one V D Gadkar on the same issue, and calls for a notice of perjury to be issued to Sonawane.

In fact, Deshpande has questioned the credentials of the earlier petitioner, whom he diligently tried to locate. Deshpande has said he suspects it was a dummy petition filed only to get a favourable picture of the power loom transactions on record.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.